Airbus Helicopters H225 vs Embraer Legacy 650 E vs Md Helicopters (mcdonnell Douglas) 902 Explorer
The Airbus H225 is a large twin‑engine helicopter designed for offshore, utility, and search‑and‑rescue roles. It typically carries around 16–19 passengers in a transport configuration and offers a practical range on the order of roughly 450–500 nautical miles, depending on payload and reserves. The MD Helicopters (McDonnell Douglas) 902 Explorer is a lighter twin‑engine helicopter aimed at law enforcement, EMS, and corporate shuttle missions; it generally seats about 7–8 passengers and has a shorter range, commonly around 300–350 nautical miles. The Embraer Legacy 650E is a long‑range business jet built for intercity and intercontinental corporate travel rather than vertical‑lift missions. It usually accommodates 13 passengers (up to about 19 depending on configuration) and provides far greater range than either helicopter, roughly 3,900–4,000 nautical miles, enabling nonstop flights such as North America coast‑to‑coast or similar long sectors. Overall, the 650E leads on range and cruise efficiency, the H225 leads on heavy‑lift and offshore capability with more cabin volume than the 902, and the 902 emphasizes smaller, quieter rotorcraft operations and agility.
| Spec | AIRBUS H225 |
|---|---|
| Summary | |
| Cockpit | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 20.87 |
| Min Crew | 2 |
| Total Seats | 21 |
| Flight Rules | IFR |
| Manufacturer | Airbus Helicopters |
| Aircraft Name | H225 |
| Certification | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 454 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.99 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 28 |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 11929 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 19 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 2,963 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | EFIS |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 142 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $ 29,500,000 |
| Cabin | |
| Cockpit | 2 |
| Min Crew | 2 |
| Total Seats | 21 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 28 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 19 |
| Engine | |
| FADEC | Yes |
| Model | Makila 2A1 |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel |
| TBO (hrs) | 3500 |
| Horsepower | 2100 |
| No. of Engines | 2 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 684 |
| Dimensions | |
| Length (ft) | 63.4 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 16.3 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 53.2 |
| Cabin Volume (cu. ft) | 547 |